Quiz: Howstuffworks

Can You Identify These Famous MLB Players From the 2010s?

Kale Havervold

Image: Wiki Commons by Keith Allison

About This Quiz

The MLB had a lot to offer its fans throughout the 2010s. There was no shortage of amazing moments, clutch performances and legendary teams. Whether it was the Chicago Cubs winning their first World Series in over 100 years, or the Cleveland Indians 22-game winning streak, there was a lot for baseball fans to celebrate.

However, it was the MLB players themselves that stole the hearts of millions of Americans and people around the world. We witnessed some of the best hitters, pitchers and defenders of all time during the 2010s. How much do you know about these players, and can you identify them? Do you know which player hit for the Triple Crown in 2012? How about which pitcher won a Cy Young in both the NL and AL during the decade?

If you want to prove your knowledge of the best MLB players of the last decade or want to learn more about these superstars, this is the quiz for you. Without any further ado, put on your batters helmet, step in the box and get ready to go head to head with our quiz all about the most famous MLB players of the 2010s.

Wiki Commons by Keith Allison

This pitcher won two straight NL Cy Young awards in 2013 and 2014. Who is he?

Homer Bailey

Clayton Kershaw

Matt Cain

Tim Lincecum

There have been many great pitchers throughout the 2010s, but few (if any) have been better than Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Kershaw has won 3 Cy Young awards and has appeared in the All-Star Game eight times.

Wiki Commons by Keith Allison

Who is this talented hitter who went to 5 straight All-Star Games as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates?

David Freese

Josh Bell

Andrew McCutchen

Billy Hamilton

While he's bounced around to a few teams in recent years, Andrew McCutchen is as talented a hitter as any. He hit with power, hit for a good average and is a former NL MVP, as well.

Wiki Commons by Keith Allison

Many believe this player is not only the best player of the 2010s but could end up being the best ever. Who is he?

David Hernandez

Mike Trout

Alex Rodriguez

Alex Gordon

Mike Trout is as close to a perfect player as you can get. He's made the All-Star Game in every season of his career and has finished top five in MVP voting in every season as well, winning it twice so far.

Wiki Commons by Arturo Pardavila III

This player was arguably the hardest hitting shortstop of the early 2010s. Who is he?

Alfonso Soriano

Brett Gardener

Jose Iglesias

Troy Tulowitzki

Shortstops normally don't hit a lot of long balls, but Troy Tulowitzki wasn't a normal shortstop. He hit over 20 home runs in seven different seasons and made five All-Star Games this last decade.

Wiki Commons by Keith Allison

This player was best known for his time with the Blue Jays and for hitting home runs. Who is he?

Darwin Barney

Marcus Stroman

Jose Bautista

Alex Rios

While he was in the league for a few seasons before joining the Blue Jays, it was his 2010 season with 54 home runs that turned him into a star. From there, he had many more great seasons for the Blue Jays, regularly hitting over 30 homers.

Wiki Commons by Keith Allison

Very few pitchers throw as many strikeouts as this ace. What is his name?

Sony Gray

Chris Sale

Jon Lester

Jake Arrieta

Whether he has played on the White Sox or the Red Sox, Chris Sale has been among the best pitchers of the 2010s. He has had a winning record in all but two of his seasons as a full-time starter and has thrown over 200 strikeouts in nearly every season of his career.

Wiki Commons by Blackngold29

This player has been one of the most consistent hitters of the last decade and has spent his entire career with the Reds. Who is he?

Joey Votto

Brandon Phillips

Matt Kemp

Jayson Werth

Ever since he came into the league, Joey Votto has been incredibly consistent. He has had over 20 home runs in nearly every full season he has played and he's always among the league leaders in OBP and walks.

Wiki Commons by Keith Allison

After spending the first near-decade of his career with the Tampa Bay Rays, this player moved on to the San Francisco Giants. Who is it?

Pablo Sandoval

Carl Crawford

Evan Longoria

Wil Myers

Evan Longoria burst onto the scene in the majors, being named an All-Star during his first three seasons. While he's slowed down, he has still been amongst the most consistent and trusted players throughout the 2010s.

Wiki Commons by Keith Allison

Who is this player who was well known for getting a lot of hits and hitting for a high average during his tenure with the Boston Red Sox?

Christian Yelich

Charlie Blackmon

Carlos Gonzalez

Dustin Pedroia

Dustin Pedroia spent his entire 14-year career with the Red Sox. During his career, he regularly hit nearly or over 200 hits a season with averages almost always at right around .300. Pedroia was also known for his incredible leadership.

Wiki Commons by Keith Allison

This catcher was the face of the Minnesota Twins during the 2010s and a former MVP. Who is he?

Brian Dozier

Joe Mauer

Nick Senzel

Byron Buxton

Joe Mauer will certainly go down as one of the best Minnesota Twins ever. He spent his whole 15-year career there, heading to the All-Star game six times. In a position where many players hit for low averages, Mauer broke the mold by hitting over .300 for most of his career.

Wiki Commons by Steve Paluch

Who is this power hitter who is still playing well during his 13th season with the Milwaukee Brewers?

Ryan Braun

Jon Jay

Ben Zobrist

Michael Brantley

While he has slowed down in the latter half of the 2010s a little, Ryan Braun was one of the best power hitters in the big leagues during the early 2010s. He regularly had over 25 homers and around 100 RBIs, with solid averages to boot.

Wiki Commons by Arturo Pardavila III

If you needed home runs over the last decade, this current Yankees player is the guy you would call. Who is he?

Aaron Hicks

Brett Gardener

Gary Sanchez

Giancarlo Stanton

Giancarlo Stanton has been one of the biggest stars and hardest hitters of the 2010s. Despite rarely playing a full MLB season, he regularly puts up near or over 30 home runs every season. In 2017, he hit 59 home runs, the most in a season since 2001.

Wiki Commons by Keith Allison

This man is one of the most underrated power hitters of all time. What is his name?

Jose Tabata

Ian Desmond

Ian Kinsler

Edwin Encarnacion

While he might not get as much attention as other power hitters of the 2010s, he certainly deserves to. Encarnacion hit over 30 homers in each season from 2012 to 2018, along with over 100 RBI in all but one.

Wiki Commons by Mike LaChance

While he entered the league in 1998, most of this player's best seasons came in the 2010s. Who is he?

Brett Boone

Adrian Beltre

Brett Boone

Adam Dunn

Adrian Beltre joined the MLB back in 1998 and had good seasons in the 2000s but hit his stride in the 2010s. His average improved significantly during that decade, without losing any of his power.

Wiki Commons by Eltiempo10

This pitcher is one of the most clutch of all time, and the only pitcher to win the World Series MVP in the 2010s. What is his name?

Johnny Cueto

Edson Volquez

Dylan Bundy

Madison Bumgarner

While he has been solid in the regular season, the place where Madison Bumgarner truly shines is during the playoffs. Bumgarner helped lead the San Francisco Giants to a World Series win in 2014, where he allowed only one run in 21 pitched innings during the World Series.

Wiki Commons by Keith Allison

What is the name of this closing pitcher who has been the best at the position for the better part of the 2010s?

Craig Kimbrel

Aroldis Chapman

Rollie Fingers

Brad Hand

After coming into the league in 2010, Craig Kimbrel has arguably been the best closer in baseball most years. He made seven All-Star games, regularly had an ERA under two and often had seasons with more than 40 saves.

Wiki Commons by Keith Allison

Who is this second baseman who regularly finished in the top five for MVP voting throughout the 2010s?

Derek Dietrich

Robinson Cano

Andruw Jones

Javier Baez

Robinson Cano currently plays for the Mets but is known more for his time with the Yankees and Mariners. He made seven All-Star Games in the 2010s and is a rare combination of contact, power and defense.

Wiki Commons by Keith Allison

This pitcher made All-Star Games in both the 2000s and the 2010s. Who is he?

Bruce Chen

Ubaldo Jimenez

Justin Verlander

Ricky Romero

During the early 2010s, Verlander was among the best pitchers in baseball and was pitching a ton of innings. However, once he moved to the Houston Astors, he seemed to get even better with age, as he's made two straight All-Star Game appearances.

Wiki Commons by EricEnfermero

Despite only being 5'6", this player has become one of the best in the MLB over the course of the 2010s. What is his name?

Aaron Judge

C.C. Sabathia

Khris Davis

Jose Altuve

From his first full season in 2012, you could see Jose Altuve was a star in the making. He's one of the best hitters in baseball and led the American League in hits from 2014-2017, while also being the batting-average leader in two of those seasons.

Wiki Commons by Keith Allison

Who is this pitcher that made five straight All-Star Game appearances from 2011-2015?

Yu Darvish

Felix Hernandez

Luis Castillo

Bronson Arroyo

King Felix was without a doubt one of the premier pitchers of the 2010s. He could do it all on the mound. He would strike out a ton of batters, not allow a lot of runs and stayed quite healthy throughout his career despite high usage.

Wiki Commons by Arturo Pardavila III

Only six pitchers have ever won both an NL and AL Cy Young award, and this pitcher is one of them. Who is he?

Max Scherzer

Adam Wainwright

Doug Fister

Phil Hughes

It's hard to find a more accomplished pitcher of the 2010s than Max Scherzer. In addition to winning 3 Cy Young Awards, he also has made seven straight All-Star appearances and led the National League in strikeouts each of the last four seasons.

Wiki Commons by Keith Allison

What is the name of this NL hitter who has finished in the top 10 in MVP voting nearly every season he has played?

Eugenio Suarez

Wilson Contreras

Starling Marte

Nolan Arenado

Despite only coming into the league in 2013, there is no doubting Arenado isn't among the best and most famous players of the 2010s. He's a perennial MVP candidate because of his high average, along with his impressive home run and RBI numbers.

Wiki Commons by Johnmaxmena2

Who is this player that recently signed the largest free agent contract in MLB history?

J.D. Martinez

Yoenis Cespedes

Jon Lester

Bryce Harper

Fresh off of a 13-year, $330-million-dollar contract, Bryce Harper without a doubt is one of the most famous players of the 2010s. Not only is he famous, but he's also very talented. He has only missed the All-Star Game twice and has put up impressive hitting numbers for his entire career.

Wiki Commons by Keith Allison

This hitter is currently sixth all-time in home runs as of mid-2019. What is his name?

Albert Pujols

Chris Davis

Curtis Granderson

Hunter Pence

No active player has hit more home runs than Albert Pujols. After a fantastic career in St. Louis from 2001-2011, Albert Pujols moved to the Los Angeles Angels, and while his batting average has fallen, he still retains a lot of power in his swing, even at almost 40 years old.

Wiki Commons by Cbl62

Who has been the only player to hit for the Triple Crown in the last 50+ years?

Miguel Cabrera

Carlos Correa

Evan Gattis

Elvis Andrus

Miguel Cabrera has been playing unbelievable baseball for almost 20 years. After a great end to 2000s, he only got better in the 2010s, winning back to back MVPs in 2012 and 2013, including the aforementioned Triple Crown in 2012.

Wiki Commons by Arturo Pardavila III

This hard-throwing pitcher regularly sits among the MLB lead in wins. Who is he?

Corey Kluber

Michael Fulmer

J.A. Happ

Aaron Sanchez

Outside of a rough 2015 and a slow start to 2019, Corey Kluber has been lights out. He has gotten 18 wins or more four of the last six seasons and finished top three in Cy Young voting in 2016, 2017 and 2018.

Wiki Commons by unknown author

What is the real name of this player widely known as "Big Papi"?

Todd Helton

Manny Ramirez

David Ortiz

Derek Jeter

Despite only playing until 2016, there's no doubting David Ortiz was among the most famous and talented players of the 2010s. He made four straight All-Star Games to begin the decade and had 38 home runs and 127 RBI during his final season at age 40.

Wiki Commons by EricEnfermero

This slugger has been one of the best players on the Braves for a decade. What is his name?

Anthony Rendon

Josh Harrison

Yasiel Puig

Freddie Freeman

While he might not blow your socks off, you can't deny the consistency of Freddie Freeman. He's hit around 20 home runs (or more) in every season of his career, while maintaining a better-than-average batting average, as well.

Wiki Commons by Keith Allison

Despite his amazing advanced stats, this pitcher has never finished in the top 3 of Cy Young voting. Who is he?

Jon Lester

Zach Greinke

Dallas Keuchel

Cole Hamels

While his numbers and accolades might not jump off the page at you, it would be tough to find a more consistent pitcher throughout the 2010s than Cole Hamels. His ERA is rarely ever above four, and advanced stats like WAR (wins above replacement) love him.

Wiki Commons by Ian D'Andrea

Who is this catcher for the San Francisco Giants who is a three-time World Series champion?

J.T. Realmuto

Buster Posey

Russell Martin

Devin Mesoraco

Along with being a three-time World Series champion, Buster Posey is also a former NL MVP and made six All-Star teams and four straight from 2015-2018. While he wasn't a huge home-run hitter, he always hit for a high average and drove a lot of batters in.

Wiki Commons by Keith Allison

What is the name of this player who played on five different teams during the 2010s?

Fransico Lindor

George Springer

Marwin Gonzalez

Justin Upton

Despite moving around a lot during the decade, there's no doubting Justin Upton is criminally underrated by some. His average wasn't always the best, but you can't deny his power. Add his defensive skills to the mix and you have a very solid player with many years still ahead of him.

Wiki Commons by Keith Allison

This Dominican-born slugger just gets better with age. What is his name?

Nelson Cruz

Pedro Alvarez

Erick Aybar

Starlin Castro

While most players get worse with age, that isn't the case with Nelson Cruz. His best seasons came after he was 30, and he's still playing well at almost 40. In particular, he is a power hitter who has hit over 35 home runs in each of his last five seasons.

Wiki Commons by Arturo Pardavila III

Who is this pitcher who had impressive stints in both the AL and the NL in the 2010s?

Homer Bailey

Jon Lester

Mariano Rivera

Marcus Stroman

Jon Lester began his career with the Red Sox and had a winning record almost every season. Once moving to the Cubs, this continued. He had the most wins of all NL pitchers during the 2018 season and has appeared in five All-Star Games.

Wiki Commons by Keith Allison

This five-tool player recently joined the San Diego Padres on a massive $300 million contract. What is his name?

Manny Machado

Eric Hosmer

Mookie Betts

Salvador Perez

Players that can throw, play defense and hit with both power and contact are rare, but Manny Machado is one of those players. He has had over 30 home runs in every full season since 2015 and has also taken home multiple Gold Glove Awards.

Wiki Commons by Feelin Kinda Blue

Since turning 30, this pitcher has made five All-Star Games. Who is he?

Mike Soroka

Sonny Gray

Zach Greinke

Hyun-Jin Ryu

Zach Greinke has been playing since 2004, but it wasn't until his move to the Dodgers (and later the Diamondbacks) that he began to light up the MLB. Since then, he has made all but one All-Star Game, has had over 13 wins every season and finished high in voting for the Cy Young numerous times.

Wiki Commons by Keith Allison

After a decade-plus with the Orioles, this player is now signed with the Diamondbacks. What's his name?

Bruce Chen

Adam Jones

Trey Mancini

Mark Trumbo

During his time with the Orioles, Adam Jones had an amazing decade during the 2010s. He hit well across the board, got four Gold Glove Awards and made four straight All-Star Games in the decade.

Wiki Commons by Barbara moore

Who is this legendary catcher who has remained with the St. Louis Cardinals for his entire 16-year career?

Kurt Suzuki

Tucker Barnhart

Yan Gomes

Yadier Molina

Not only has Yadier Molina's tenure in St. Louis been long but also very successful. He has made nine All-Star Games (eight in the 2010s), as well as taking home numerous Gold Glove Awards and winning not one but two World Series'.

Wiki Commons by Keith Allison

This pitcher was an instrumental part of the Red Sox World Series win in 2018. Who is he?

Luis Castillo

David Price

David Wells

Michael Lorenzen

While his best seasons came at the start of the decade (he was an All-Star from 2010-2015), David Price has been able to prove time and time again that he is still a dangerous pitcher. He hasn't had a losing record on the mound since 2011.

Wiki Commons by hj_west

Very few hitters were able to drive in runners like this slugger who retired in 2016. What is his name?

Prince Fielder

Barry Bonds

Ichiro Suzuki

Ken Griffey Jr.

Despite retiring in 2016, Prince Fielder is without a doubt one of the best and most famous players of the last decade. He regularly drove in over 100 batters, went to four All-Star Games in the decade and could hit with power as well.

Wiki Commons by Arturo Pardavila III

What's the name of this player who has consistently been one of the best all-around players this decade?

Adam Dunn

Paul Goldschmidt

Dee Gordon

Brett Lawrie

Whether it's playing defense at a high level or hitting the ball hard and often, Paul Goldschmidt can do it all. He made six straight All-Star Games from 2013 to 2018, putting up over 20 or 30 home runs most of those years.

Sponsored Links

About HowStuffWorks Play

How much do you know about dinosaurs? What is an octane rating? And how do you use a proper noun? Lucky for you, HowStuffWorks Play is here to help. Our award-winning website offers reliable, easy-to-understand explanations about how the world works. From fun quizzes that bring joy to your day, to compelling photography and fascinating lists, HowStuffWorks Play offers something for everyone. Sometimes we explain how stuff works, other times, we ask you, but we’re always exploring in the name of fun! Because learning is fun, so stick with us!

Get smarter every day! Subscribe & get 1 quiz every week.

Playing quizzes is free! We send trivia questions and personality tests every week to your inbox. By
clicking "Sign Up" you are agreeing to our
privacy policy and confirming that you are 13
years old or over.